Log-bunk



c. 0. DALE..

LOG BUNK.`

APPLICATION FILED FEB|7| 1.920.

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CHARLES O. DALE, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO AXEL PETERSON, 0F SEATTLE,U WASHINGTON.

LOG-BUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, V1921.

Application led February '7, 1920. Serial No. 357,020.

T o all whom t may concern Be it known that l, CHnnLns O. DALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Vashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Log-Brinks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in log bunks and stakes that are adapted to be used on liat cars or trucks for the transportation of logs and the like, and the object of my invention is to provide a strong and simple bunk, embodying at each end thereof a stake of simple and durable construction that may be easily and quickly tripped to dump the logs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bunk having a stake disposed at each end thereof associated with suitable locking mechanism which is adapted to positively hold the stake in its locked position and that is further adapted to be tripped from the opposite side of the car or truck to thereby permit the said stake to d rop below the plane of the top surface of the bunk to be completely out of the way when so tripped.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bunk having a stake disposed at each end thereof associated with suitable locking mechanism adapted to be actuated by the said stake when the latter is moved to a vertical position to Vpositively lock the said stake in the aforesaid vertical position.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a bunk having a stake disposed at each end thereof associated with suitable locking mechanisms the latter being adapted to be controlled or actuated from the opposite sides of the car or truck by adjustable controlling or locking bars disposed within and longitudinally of the said bunk, the mechanisms and the bars being so arranged that when the load is on the stakes the strain on the bars will be tensional.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a bunk having stake receiving openings on its ends thereof adapted to receive interchangeable stakes of varying lengths.

/Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds my invention resides in the novel construction, combination, adaptation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

I accomplish these objects by devices illustrated in the accompanying wherein Figure 1 is a top plan viewof a log bunk embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the bunk as it may appear when mounted on a flat car, parts being broken away also illustrating one of the stakes in a vertical locked position with the other stake tripped.

lFig. 3 is a fragmentary view in longi-4 tudinal section of one end of the bunk illustrating the stake actuating the automatic locking mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the bunk with the stake in a vertical locked position the upper partl of the latter being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section of the bunk taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the locking member.

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the lower portion of the stake, and Y Fig. 8 is a similar view of the adjustable controlling or actuating bar.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numeral 10 indicates a log bunk having similarly constructed stake receiving openings 11 formed in the ends thereof and adapted to be secured to a set of car trucks or to the deck of a flat car 12 as shown in the drawings, to extend transversely thereof, two or more of such bunks being provided to form a support on which logs or other bulky pieces of timber may be positioned for transportation.

The bunk 10 isiixedly secured to the deck i of the flat car 12 by bolts 14 passing through the said deck and. also through the integral ears or lugs 15 formed on the lower edges of the side walls of the said bunk.

As now constructed the bunk 10 is substantially channel shaped in cross section as shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the said bunk comprising downwardly flaring walls 16 which are connected at their upper edges by an integral transverse wall 17, the aforesaid side walls being suitably reinforced drawings,

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adjacent their ends by interior transverse webs 18 thus providing a bunk of a relatively light-and rigid construction.

' As hereinbefore stated the bunk l0 is provided on its ends with stake receiving openings ll adapted to receive stakes 2O which are pivotally mounted therein, the said stakes when raised projecting upwardly as shown at the left end of F ig. 2 and when tripped are disposed below the plane of the top of the bunk 10 as shown at the right end of the said figure. Thestakes 20 being similar in construction and each being provided with similar actuating and locking mechanisms it is thought in view of the foregoing that the description of one stake with its associated mechanism will suliice.

The stake 20 is preferably made in various lengths which are readily interchangeable when desired and as now constructed comprises side walls 2l connected by a transverse wall 22 to thus provide a hollow1 stake which is substantially channel shaped in cross section as more clearly illustrated in F ig. 7 and which embodies lightness and rigidity with the required strength.

To provide a stake of approved appearance and design the outer edges of the side walls 2l are preferably formed straight while the inner edges of the said walls with the transverse wall 22 are taperingly inclined in an upward and outward direction with respect to the" said outer edges from a point adjacent the lower end of the stake and on their upper ends are suitably curved to merge with the aforesaid outer edges.

Disposed on the outer faces of the lower ends of the side walls 2l and integral with the same are bosses 23 the latter having aXialholes therein adapted to receive a pin 24 disposed in the lower outer corners of the side walls 16 of the opening 1l to thus provide a pivotal connection between the stake 20 and the bunk 10.

To positively retain or lock the stake 20 in a raised position as shown at the left end of Fig. 2 l have provided a locking mechanism which is adapted to be actuated by the stake 20 during its upward swinging movement to perform the automatic locking operation as more clearly shown in F ig. 3, the said locking operation being completed when the upward swinging movement of the stake 20 terminates as will be readily understood. The aforesaid locking mechanism comprises, a locking member or element 25 disposed within the stake receiving opening ll, the said member being pivotally mounted therein on a pin 26 disposed in the upper inner corners of the side walls 16 of the said opening, an adjustable controlling or locking bar 35 longitudinally disposed within the bunk 10 having one of its ends pivotally secured to the said locking member, a latch member 36 threadably Largest engaged on the opposite end of the saidbar disposed for longitudinal sliding movement within a chamber or recess 40 formed in one of the side walls V16 of the opening ll and adapted to normally engage a shoulder 4l formed on the lower wall of the said chamber or recess 40 when the bar 35 is in a fully retracted position and a dog yor pawl 45 pivotally mounted-in the chamber or recess 40 adapted to engage the said latch member 36 when the bar 35 is in its fully retracted position to restrainingly hold same against lon fritudinal j movement.

The locking member 25 as now constructed comprises, an upper arcuate portion 27 the latter having a downwardly and outwardly projecting transverse cam portion 28 on its inner end, an arcuate transverse groove or seat 29 on its underside, a downwardly projecting transversely disposed tooth 30 on its outer end and a downwardly and inwardly projecting arm '31 integral with or otherwise liXedly secured to one side of the portion 27, the said arm 3l having a bifurcated portion 32 formed on its inner end for the reception of a coupling 37 threadably mounted for adjustment on the bar 35 to thus provide a pivotal connection between the member 25 and the bar 35.

An arcuate recess 33 is formed vin the walls 2l and 22 of the stake 20, the said recess having an upwardly projecting transversely disposed tooth 34 formed on the lower and outer edge thereof, the said tooth 34 being substantially similar in shape to the tooth V30 on the member 25 and adapted to positively engage the same and be disposed in the groove or seat 29 of the said member when the stake 2O is yin a locked position as shown at the left end of Fig. 2. The size and shape of the recess 33 being such as to readily permit the proper engaging and disengaging of the lockin member 25 with the stake 20.

To facilitate the actuating ofthe member 25 by the stake 20 and also to furnish the necessary working clearance for the several elements I prefer to undercut or curve the lower and inner portion of the said stake as shown at 34a to thus provide a curved surface adapted to abut the tooth 30 during the upward swinging movement to raise the member 25 to permit the said tooth to ride over the tooth 34 and to subsequently abut lthe cam portion 2S to insure the positive en-l gagement of the teeth 30 and 34.

To compensate for the wearing of the several elements comprising the locking mechanism l have found it advisable in practice to cut right and left hand threads on the Opposite ends of the adjustable bar 35 on which as hereinbefore mentioned the latch member 36 and the coupling 37 are threadably mounted for adjustment to thus allow the length of said bar being increased or decreased as desired by giving same. a few turns in either direction to vary the distance between the latch and coupling as will be readily understood.

With the bar 35 in its fully retracted position as shown at the right end of Fig. 2 a shoulder 38 formed on the underside of the latch member 36 abuts the shoulder 4l formed on the lower wall of the recess 40 thus preventing unauthorized longitudinal movement o1"- the bar 35. To further prevent accidental dislodgement of the latch member 36 and to retain the shoulders 38 and 4l in engagement the lower end of the dog or pawl 45 is adapted to engage the portion 39 on the outer end of the said latch member. To facilitate the tripping operation and the releasing of the dog or pawl 45 I provide the latter with a downwardly' projecting tit 46 adapted to be engaged by a nail or other similar article to raise the said pawl and release the locking mechanism.

In the` operation of my device a loaded flat car is spotted at a desired point where the track is suitably banked t facilitate the dumping 0f the logs. An operator` is stationed at each of the bunks on the said car to insure that all the stakes on the side the load is to be dumped will be tripped simultaneously.

This is accomplished by each operator withdrawing his respective dog or pawl 45 then raising the latch member 36 to free the shoulder 38 from the shoulder 4l thereby allowing the bar 35 free longitudinal movement to permit the outward pressure exerted by the logs or load on the stake 2O to act thereon to throw the latter outwardly and" downwardly to be out of the way of the logs during the unloading operation. The outward movement of the stake 2O caused by the pressure of the logs simultaneously and automatically disengages the latter from its associated locking member as will be readily understood by referring to the drawings.

The dumping or discharging operation having been completed the stake 2O is reset or positioned by swinging it upwardly to a substantially vertical position to permit of the curved face 34- on the stake contacting with the tooth on the member 25 raising the latter and allowing the aforesaid tooth to enter the recess 33 on the stake and the tooth 34 on the latter to seat in the seat 29 of the member 25. The curved surface 34a also engages the cam portion 28 to positively insure the engagement of the teeth 30 and 34. The lowering of the member' 25 caused by the engagement of the aforesaid teeth moves the bar 35 longitudinallv to permit the shoulder 38 engaging the shoulder 41, the dog or pawl dropping automatically into place when the latch member 36 is seated, to lock the same.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and ofthe method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the invention.

W hat I claim is In combination with a log bunk having end passages therein, a stake pivoted adj acent each end passage, the bottom wall of each passage being cut away at the outer ends of the bunk to provide an abrupt shoulder, a locking member pivotally mounted at each end of the bunk and adapted to engage the adjacent stake to hold the same in vertical position, an extensible locking rod connected to each locking member, a latch device carried by the end of the locking rod and extending through the end passage of the bunk and constructed for engagement with the abrupt passage shoulder of the bottom wall of the passage at the opposite end of the bunk, and means carried by the bunk within the passage for holding the latch device in engagement with the shoulder.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of January A. D.,

CHARLES O. DALE. 

